Transportation Minster is demanding clarity before Ontario commits to anything regarding a subway rather than an LRT.

Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray unveils images of the planned Union Pearson Express train service at the Union Station Skywalk. The service is to due to be operational in time for the city's hosting of the 2015 Pan-Am games.

Criticizing Toronto council’s state of indecision, Transportation Minister Glenn Murray says there won’t be any further discussions about a Scarborough subway extension until the city has a clear consensus.

Murray was peppered with questions at a media event Thursday morning for the planned Union Pearson Express, which he said is proceeding on-time and on-budget.

“There are no discussions going on regarding making the LRT into a subway,” Murray said, responding to reporters. “We’re not currently negotiating a deal with the city of Toronto on this.”

He confirmed that he had recently talked with Toronto Transit Commission chair Karen Stintz about plans for the successor to the obsolete Scarborough Rapid Transit system, which according to a master agreement signed last November is to be replaced with light rail.

Stintz, in an impromptu media scrum at city hall, confirmed Murray asked for formal clarification of the city’s position on expanding the subway along the SRT route instead. “I think that after all the discussions we have had, I think there’s a growing awareness that extending the Bloor-Danforth line to Sheppard (Ave.) is a good transit project,” she said.

“The city manager is looking at ways we can finance the increase in cost from an LRT to a subway, and we will be asking for the province to honour their commitment for $1.8 billion.”

But Murray was unequivocal: He wants clarity from the city before he will make any commitments, and in the interim, work will continue on the LRT project.

“It’s not just a case of passing a motion at council and saying, ‘We’ve changed minds like we changed our socks,’” he said.

According to the minister, the budget for the LRT project has actually been reduced by $400 million to $1.4 billion, and work done so far is on time and on budget. The province has estimated switching to subway would cost $923 million more.

“The Liberals had 10 years to build subways in Scarborough,” reads the statement. “Now, in the midst of a byelection, they’re making empty promises in an attempt to play political games.” Klees was a Tory MPP when then-premier Mike Harris axed the Eglinton subway in 1995.

“We’ve had the Miller plan, the Ford plan and now the Stintz plan, and in May there was another contradictory motion,” he said. “Projects aren’t happening because people are changing their minds and having a conversation instead.”

And Murray had the backing of Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson — a longtime advocate for an expanded subway line — who said he understands why the minister is waiting for clarification, considering the mixed signals emanating from city hall.

“I’ve sensed a real interest (from the Liberals), in terms of trying to assist Scarborough, in its desire to get a full subway extension from Kennedy Rd.,” Thompson said.

Murray said that whether it’s an LRT or a subway that replaces the SRT, the most important thing is to make progress.

“This is about jobs and investment, and Scarborough has never gotten the full benefit of transit investments that other parts of the GTA has,” he said. “Scarborough needs to be a full and equal partner.”

Murray added that he also wouldn’t even entertain plans for a subway expansion until the city presented plans for a new zoning package that would be needed for new office towers.

The transportation minister was accompanied by Metrolinx President Bruce McCuaig at Thursday’s press conference.

The message was simple: development of the Union Pearson Express train service is on budget and on schedule to be operational in time for the opening of the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.

With files from Paul Moloney

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.